Chapter 7
A voice neither too fast nor too slow.
‘Like Bathilda.’
Elize’s confidence seemed to waver slightly at Baeksan’s composed tone.
“What do you mean?”
“Rather than testing me one by one, there’s a better way. Would you like to hear it?”
“…Go ahead.”
Baeksan gently lowered her eyes while lifting her teacup.
“The blindfolded statue behind you, Deputy Guild Master, has a lie detection spell on it.”
“…!”
“The wing-shaped sculpture I passed at the entrance has a magic detection spell.”
While Elize stood slack-jawed in shock, Baeksan’s eyes swept across the wall.
“That’s the Eight-Branched Bell used for summoning rain in ancient times. Next to it is what appears to be the whip used by Sem, the conquering ruler of Nanuchin… but it’s a replica.”
“…Impossible.”
Elize flinched at her own involuntary murmur. Her eyes quickly sharpened.
“You’re not a magician, nor a certified appraiser.”
“Correct.”
“Yet you knew about these items at a glance. Without any proper examination.”
Baeksan shrugged.
Then Elize asked:
“Could you be… a ‘Sage’?”
* * *
The woman hesitated briefly before slowly removing her robe.
“I am Minervina Rethor.”
Purple-blue hair braided to one side.
Pink eyes.
A slender jaw and notably thin frame.
It matched exactly with the guild’s records of Minervina Rethor’s appearance.
Elize immediately rose from the sofa and bowed.
“Please forgive my previous rudeness. I, Elize Barrett, Deputy Guild Master of Sophs Appraisal House, greet Lady Minervina Rethor.”
“Such formality isn’t necessary…”
“Though you may have lost your family’s wealth, Rethor remains a noble house.”
Minervina nodded somewhat awkwardly at her words.
“Very well. Please sit comfortably first.”
“You should speak informally to me.”
“I’ll think about that. After all, if I work here, you’ll be my superior, Miss Barrett.”
“Even so, nobles don’t use honorifics with commoners.”
“It’s fine since I’ll be keeping my identity secret.”
“…You want me to keep it hidden?”
“I liked you from the moment I saw you, Miss Barrett.”
Minervina smiled brightly.
The blush on her youthful face made her look like an innocent girl.
But she was ‘the Sage of Rethor.’ The one said to have awakened to the world’s truths.
While the claim of being a sage couldn’t be verified, the abilities she’d demonstrated were undeniably real.
“Understood. I’ll ensure only the Guild Master and I know about this matter.”
“Thank you.”
Elize sat back down with a heavy sigh.
The expensive tea was cooling before her, but she had no inclination to drink it.
“Let me be direct. Why did you come here?”
“Here?”
“If you went to the imperial court… no, even just revealing your existence would earn you tremendous treatment.”
Plus, there was one more question.
“Moreover, surely the imperial family would have conducted ‘verification’ before withdrawing support…”
She’d heard the imperial family had ways to identify the Sage of Rethor.
‘Or did she awaken to her abilities after relations with the imperial family soured?’
Various hypotheses swirled in her mind.
Minervina stared steadily at Elize.
The gaze made Elize flinch unconsciously.
Didn’t it feel like she was being seen through?
Minervina smiled knowingly.
“I simply don’t need such treatment. That’s also why I want to keep my identity hidden.”
A sound escaped Elize’s lips, impossible to tell whether admiration or resignation.
‘Well, Baron Rethor did die from shock when imperial support was cut off. The baroness disappeared…’
She couldn’t even ask what had happened to the baroness.
It was tragic. If Minervina had awakened as a sage just a little earlier, the family might not have been scattered to the winds.
‘Thinking of it that way, I understand why she won’t go to the imperial court. She must resent them.’
However, if the other party was truly ‘the Sage of Rethor,’ it posed problems for Elize.
‘If this gets out, we’ll have trouble with the imperial family.’
The imperial family was already irritated about supporting the Rethor baronial family for so long without gaining anything in return.
Though her abilities were extremely tempting, she was a poisoned apple.
Having made up her mind, Elize sighed.
“Lady Minervina Rethor, I regret to say…”
“That despite my excellent capabilities, you cannot work with me?”
“Pardon?”
Elize looked at Minervina in surprise as she predicted her words.
Minervina spoke calmly.
“Must an appraiser be a magician?”
“…It’s not necessary to be a magician. As long as you can appraise magical items. However—”
“Miss Barrett.”
Minervina smiled gently.
“Don’t you have something giving you a headache recently?”
“…!”
How did she—
While Elize mentally questioned Sophs’ security, Minervina pressed forward quickly.
“I think I can handle that troublesome item for you. What do you say?”
“…”
Elize pressed her throbbing forehead.
‘Can sages read minds as well?’
It was impossible to hide anything from this young lady.
“…I don’t know how you knew, but yes, we do have such an item. Are you saying you’ll appraise it in exchange for employment?”
“Yes.”
“…”
Elize fingered her pen.
A potential risk that might draw imperial attention.
Yet the legendary Sage of Rethor, whose very dangers made her more attractive. The one the Guild Master had always sung about wanting to meet just once…
What settled her deliberation was Minervina’s single comment.
“You paid quite a bit for that box, didn’t you?”
A twitch.
“You need to recoup those losses. As Deputy Guild Master.”
“…”
Finally making her decision, Elize nodded.
“Very well. If you succeed in appraising that item, we will hire you as an appraiser, Lady Minervina.”
* * *
Before heading to where the troublesome box was kept, Elize handed Baeksan a blindfold.
“We’re entering Sophs’ top-secret area. Please wear this for security.”
Though respectful, she seemed slightly nervous, perhaps because of Baeksan’s noble status.
[Elize Barrett]
A trustworthy merchant. Feels slight fear toward you. Likely won’t spread rumors even if your identity is revealed.
If not for that description, Baeksan wouldn’t have revealed herself as a sage.
She put on the blindfold without hesitation. Then she was slightly surprised.
‘Oh? I can’t see?’
Even with her eyes open, no descriptions appeared.
She’d expected at least something like [Blindfold] to appear.
‘So this ability really does depend on sight? I’ll have to be careful in dark places and at night.’
While Baeksan was thinking this, Elize placed a rope in her hand.
“Hold this and follow me. I’ll warn you when we reach the stairs.”
The two moved forward with Elize leading. Judging by their route, they were heading underground.
Elize only stopped walking after quite some time.
“You may remove the blindfold now.”
‘What requires such intense security?’
Baeksan removed the blindfold with slight annoyance.
A square-shaped space appeared before her eyes. Not very large. Perhaps nine or ten square meters at most.
Baeksan and Elize could observe the space through a glass window.
It was a strange room. As if designed to contain something.
Robed figures sat in each corner of the room, and remarkably, a box floated in the exact center.
[Ominous Box]
A box containing something ominous. Protected by 7 intersecting spells. Mere touch can drive the weak-minded insane.
…What’s with this terrifying description?
To the startled Baeksan, Elize explained.
“This is an item we acquired through special channels. We’re using magicians to contain its energy. As you can see, it’s quite… ominous.”
